3 Ways to Know The Perfect Time to Say Goodbye

Knowing when and how to say goodbye is often difficult, even in informal situations. But learning to say goodbye eloquently, tactfully, and appropriately is a skill that will help you maintain your relationships and let people know you actually care.


It's also easier than it seems sometimes. Read on to learn how to recognize opportunities and anticipate others' needs when you leave.

1.) Watch body language.
Honestly, overstaying your welcome is kind of rude, but it can often be difficult to distinguish. People don't like telling you that they would like you to leave, so try to watch for signals. If the host of a party starts cleaning up, or withdraws from the conversation, gather your friends or belongings and say goodbye. If someone starts checking their watch, or seems otherwise restless, it's also time to leave.

2.) Recognize when to leave.
It can be difficult to say goodbye when you're at any kind of party or gathering, or even a one-on-one conversation, . Learning to recognize good opportunities to leave will make a short-term goodbye even much easier. Notice when the crowd starts reducing. If more than half the people have left, it could be a good time to take your leave. Look for the host or friends and bid farewell . Do your best not to hammer on your exit. It could make those around you think you're desperate to get out. Another thing is if you know you won't make it till the end, speak to them beforehand. You don't need to wait for any special signal. If you're ready to go home, or ready for the conversation to move along, say, "Well, I'll be going. See you all later!"

3.) Tell the truth.
You can be tempted to come up with a "good excuse" when you're ready to leave. But you don't need to (lying could also make them feel hurt if they find out you didn't mean it). If you want to leave, just say, "I'm going to go now, see you later." It doesn't need to be any more complicated than that. If you want to extract from a conversation you're ready to end, "I'll talk to you later," is likewise plenty.